reckon

force to be reckoned with

Fig. someone or something that is important and powerful and must not be ignored. Walter is a force to be reckoned with. Be prepared to deal with him. The growing discontent with the political system is a powerful force to be reckoned with.

See also: force

reckon someone or something among something

to judge someone or something to belong among a select group. I reckon Donna among the best tennis pros in the country. We reckon this automobile among the most advanced in the world.

See also: among

reckon someone or something into something and reckon someone or something in

to figure someone or something in; to include someone or something in one's calculations. I will reckon Jane into the total number of guests. I reckoned in a few too many people.

reckon someone as someone or something

to perceive someone as someone or something. I reckoned her as a more thoughtful individual than she turned out to be. Mary reckoned Scott as a constant irritation, and she was right on the button.

reckon with someone or something

to deal with someone or something; to cope with someone or something. I have to reckon with the troublesome Mr. Johnson this afternoon. Mary knew just exactly how she had to reckon with the bill collector.

reckon without someone

to fail to think about someone. He thought he'd get away with his crime, but he reckoned without the FBI agents. He had thought he was gone for sure, but he had reckoned without the paramedics.

See also: without

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be a force to be reckoned with

if an organization or person is a force to be reckoned with, they are very powerful The Scottish team's performance last month shows that they are once again a force to be reckoned with.

See also: force

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a force to be reckoned with also a force to reckon with

a powerful and influential person or thing In my new job, I felt like a force to be reckoned with.

See also: force

reckon with somebody/something

to consider the influence or power that someone or something has He failed to reckon with the bureaucratic skills of the military. You have to reckon with these angry people who just don't like change of any kind.